diff --git a/accel/tcg/cpu-exec.c b/accel/tcg/cpu-exec.c
index 49b3259f36..fab30af86f 100644
--- a/accel/tcg/cpu-exec.c
+++ b/accel/tcg/cpu-exec.c
@@ -266,6 +266,9 @@ void cpu_exec_step_atomic(CPUState *cpu)
 #ifndef CONFIG_SOFTMMU
         tcg_debug_assert(!have_mmap_lock());
 #endif
+        if (qemu_mutex_iothread_locked()) {
+            qemu_mutex_unlock_iothread();
+        }
         assert_no_pages_locked();
     }